Reading is a process of looking at a series of written symbols and getting meaning from them. There are different techniques that can be used in the reading process.
We can classify reading into three kinds:
- Extensive reading
- Intensive reading,
- Oral reading.
Extensive Reading
This is the best way for learners to improve their reading skills.
- Extensive reading refers to a culture and practice
- It is a habit of reading large material, like a novel.
- It is not a reading within an instructional setting. It means reading takes place not based on the instruction given by the authority.
- Usually, extensive reading techniques use to read enjoyable books.
- The aim of extensive reading is to build speed and fluency in reading.
- It doesn’t give much importance to studying grammar, vocabulary, and phrases.
- It helps us to read a variety and a large quantity of comprehensible material.
- Readers can select reading materials based on their levels of linguistic proficiency.
Intensive reading
- Intensive reading refers to the practice of reading skills in an instructional setting or context like a classroom.
- An instructor or a teacher provides a variety of reading material or a passage to the readers and assigned activities
- The reading materials or passages are usually small and short.
- During the time of intensive reading, the reader gives primary importance to grammar, vocabulary, phrases, and comprehension.
- Intensive reading is followed by comprehension questions and other activities
- Learners need to look for critical information in the passage they are reading, make inferences, etc.
- Intensive reading is instruction-based and forms the core of improving reading skills.
Oral Reading
- It is a reading technique to read with speed, accuracy, proper intonation, expression, and good comprehension.
- It encompasses fluently reading both silently and aloud.
- We use the technique initial stage of language learning.
These are the major techniques that are usually used to improve reading skills.